Summer Entertaining Tips {& Kirklands’ $250 Giveaway!}

It’s summer y’all, and time to get our par-tay on!  Smile 

My favorite part of summer is spending time outside on our back patio.  It’s so much fun to have friends over to hang out and dine outside.

Thanks to Kirkland”s, I have been able to get my back patio together and ready for our Summer Soirees.

summer entertaining tips

When I wrote “summersoiree” on my chalkboard, my boys were like, “Wha?”

They hadn’t ever heard of a “soiree.”  {We aren’t real fancy in Kentucky, ya know.}  Smile

I looked soiree up in the dictionary, and this is what it said…

 

soi·rée

swäˈrā/

noun

  1. an evening party or gathering, typically in a private house, for conversation or music.

 

 

Perfect!  That describes exactly what I like to do in the summer!

So I want to share three quick entertaining tips to make your summer soiree special.

summer entertaining tips

This was easy to do with my twin beverage dispensers and galvanized metal beverage station from Kirkland”s.

summer entertaining tips

Of course, we always have sweet tea and lemonade on hand.  My husband likes to mix the two and make an “Arnold Palmer.”

In the galvanized metal beverage station, I filled it with cold drinks for the kiddos. {My Kentucky readers might recognize our original Kentucky soft drink, Ale8.}summer entertaining tips

I love the rope handles on the bucket. 

summer entertaining tips

I am crazy about fresh flowers right now!  They just make every space, indoors or outdoors, feel special.

I put some bright, yellow flowers on my table to add some color and life to that space.

summer entertaining tips

I also added some fresh cut daisies to my glass vase table runner  on my patio furniture.summer entertaining tips

Aren’t they cute?  The glass vase table runner and the wicker placemats are both from Kirklands.

summer entertaining tips

Now for my final tip…

summer entertaining tipsI like to light some candles or tiki torches, hang some fun party lights, or add a lamp or lantern. 

I found these colorful paper lanterns at Kirkland”s, and they light up at night by a simple on/off switch and batteries.

summer entertaining tips

I also added some decorative lighting by hanging these two teal lanterns on each side of the mirror that I got from Kirkland”s.   The lanterns have candles in them.

summer entertaining tips

As the evening gets darker, the beautiful glow of lights always adds a special touch to any party.

Now my patio is ready to go!

summer entertaining tips

Now are you ready for the

$250 Kirkland”s gift card giveaway?

 

I am teaming up with four of my favorite blog friends in the world for this giveaway!  Each of them are sharing their own post about outdoor entertaining.  Be sure to check them out…

Chris from Just a Girl

Sarah from Thrifty Décor Chick

Beth from Homes Stories A to Z

 

You can enter the giveaway below.  Goodluck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

 

I received compensation for the Kirkland’s “Summer Soiree” blog post. Kirkland’s partnered with several bloggers like me to raise brand awareness. All purchases and content are on my own accord and reflect my personal opinion and style. Kirkland’s blogger outreach policies abide by the WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations. For official Kirkland’s giveaway rules, visit http://www.kirklands.com/content.jsp?pageName=blogger_rules-03.

252 Comments

  1. Oh my! There are so many pretty things to choose from, but I think I would fix up my outdoor patio. I would choose: the Vera Birch Chevron outdoor rug, a Geometric Ceramic Outdoor stool, and from the Savannah Collection – the chair and sidetable.
    Thanks for the giveaway!

  2. Love your soiree, and love Kirklands! I would purchase a set of the industrial red bar stools for my kitchen island.

  3. You did a great job. We have lots of parties at our house and I am always looking for ways to fancy them up without breaking the bank!!

  4. Oh this is a tough one, kirklands has so many great things out! I would put this towards the linen tufted chaise lounger I have been wanting for my master bedroom!

  5. Oh and as far as stuff from Kirkland’s, I would def. by lanterns and candles. Drink dispensers would also be on the list.

  6. I think I would pick out lots of decor items for different rooms or our patio..it would be such fun…

  7. Love your cute outdoor space!!! Just curious if you have any trouble keeping everything clean out on your porch or if you just put your things out when you have a need for them? The pollen in Indiana has been crazy and I’m constantly spraying off our deck and wiping pollen off of the table. Thanks for linking the items too, Kirklands has some great deals!!

  8. I love all of your ideas!! I am redoing my kitchen with the colors you used for your soirée!! I wouldn’t of know what a soirée was either!!

  9. Thanks for this giveaway! I would get some beverage dispensers for sure-hard to choose…and some outdoor rugs.

  10. Love your set-up. I struggle with our deck because it’s not covered and is pretty small. I’d love to check out Kirkland’s to see how I can make the space work better. Thanks!

  11. Wow! This is great fun! Thanks for the give away! If I won I would buy drink dispensers, the drink tub, several pictures, lighting, and more!!!

  12. Our new house is in desperate need of some art and wall decor, and I am currently drooling over several art pieces at Kirklands.

  13. I check your website everyday for inspiration. You are a true blessing to me. I also love Kirkland’s and I love the smell of the store when I shop there each time. :)

  14. I love everything at Kirklands! I would purchase the Beverage Station.. Thanks for all the wonderful ideas!!

  15. I will definitely be using some of these tips when I finally gets around to setting up our summer porch!

  16. I love your space! Never would have thought to put a chalkboard outside but I love it! I love the pops of blue everywhere.

  17. I look forward to all your posts. You are one of my favorite blogs. And I love Kirklands…unfortunately (wink!) I have one only about 4 miles away. Thanks! Happy 4th everyone!

  18. Oh! I would LOVE to win this! I love Kirklands! I just bought the owl doormat from there a couple of weeks ago. Thanks for the tips you shared!

  19. Great job as usual. Follow your blog daily. I would really like to have the beverage station, what a cool idea.

  20. Love EVERYTHING at Kirkland’s! I would definitely choose outdoor items like the owl door mat, scrolled metal lanterns, or a bistro set…just to name a few!

  21. Love it! We just hosted an indoor/outdoor graduation party and I used daisies picked from the side yard..getting ready to post about the party. Love the chalkboard outside.

  22. I would have a difficult choice picking one area to decorate. They have many wonderful things to pick from

  23. I am currently trying to redo our back deck and my front porch. Oh how I need to win this!!! I love all your decorating and the tips are great.

  24. What an awesome giveaway! You have also given me some wonderful ideas with this post. I LOVE that chalk board!!

    1. There are so many great thing to purchase. I am also moving soon and will need so much for the new house! I want to do a wall of mirrors so I think I would buy some mirrors. I especially like the full length mirrors for my new foyer.

  25. I’d love to have the 3 basket storage bench in cream and the vintage sugar and flour canisters. Your space is so cute!

  26. I love Kirkland’s but haven’t shopped there since moving from SC to CA! lol..I am happy to see that I can order from their website now!

    I’d get lamps! I’m in desperate need of those!

    Amber Glass Fillable Table Lamp (love these!) Would probably get a pair at that great price, then use the rest for art, etc.

    Thanks for the chance to win!!

    Joey J.

    1. Oops, how rude of me lol..I meant to say that I loved everything about this post!! Great ideas & I REALLY want that chalkboard you have haha..Love it!!

  27. I would definitely buy some cute things for the patio. Maybe a couple of lanterns and drink dispensers. There are so many cute things to choose from!

  28. It’s all about outside entertaining and I love your beverage station so I would pick the hammered outdoor beverage dispenser to start! Thanks for the opportunity and your blog.

  29. I like the acacia wood outdoor dining plates and serving bowl – seems like a good idea to use something that isn’t as fragile as what we use indoors and I like the natural element. Also, love outdoor lighting options! Thanks for the giveaway!

  30. I have been drooling over the Blue 6-Drawer Storage Bench with Baskets for my beach-themed crafting room I am working on!

  31. Well, since I have already purchased the twin beverage dispenser set and the vase table runners : ), I would definitely have to get the galvanized bucket. I am planning an outdoor birthday party for my grandson’s 4th birthday! I just bought for myself, one of the awesome mirrored hanging jewelry organizers…I’d love to get another lamp to go with that. For my daughter – I bought some of their adorable wedding signs for her wedding May 2015! There’s never a time that I walk into Kirklands and cannot find several things I ‘need’. Thanks for sharing this great summer party post with all of your great ideas for design : ) Perfect timing!

  32. There were just so many beautiful things to look at that I would love to have in my home…especially the wall art!

    Thank you for this opportunity.

  33. I have a small patio that needs help! So I would be purchasing outdoor rugs, lighting, and cushions for my small outdoor space. I love your buffet layout. I live in Winchester – where Ale-8 is a way of life. :)

  34. I would get some decor for our house they have a ton of great stuff!
    BTW is that console table you have outside from Kirklands? i love it!
    Thank you!

  35. You can’t go wrong with Kirkland’s. I think I would choose one of the beautiful outdoor rugs or one of the galvanized beverage containers. Your patio is beautiful. It’s so hot here in Arizona I wish we could be outside to entertain more.

  36. I’m a dish junkie so definitely dishes. There’s a zebra area rug that needs to be in my house. I’d like some of the patriotic decor I saw online and I love the paper lanterns.

  37. My list is endless but I’d start with the Vera Birch Chevron Outdoor rug and the Jackson Medallion area rug for my family room.

  38. Love it Traci. Sharing time with friends and family outside this time of year is amazing. Love your choices!

  39. I am getting ready to re-do my front porch. So many things – lanterns, rugs, porch furniture – that I would LOVE to get at Kirklands!

  40. I would love some of the wicker place mats and the little bottle center piece, so cute!
    Your home is always so inviting and lovely. You have such a great style.

  41. I would get the galvanized metal beverage station. Wish I had a Kirkland’s near by, I’d be there all the time! Your patio looks wonderful.

  42. I would begin with the chevron blanket throw and then search the clearance. I’m a bit of a bargain shopper!!

  43. I just love your entertaining ideas and you gave me great ideas for event next week. Love the idea of flowers

  44. I LOVE Kirkland’s, but there isn’t one within 50 miles of me :( I actually JUST placed an order this morning, haha. I would definitely buy more of the glass lanterns that I’ve had my eye on (and that I just bought two of)! Maybe enough to line my whole walkway!

  45. Kirkland’s has so many beautiful looking things! I would love to get a patio table set (since we don’t really have one) and it would be fun to get the Savannah Brown Wicker Dining Table. Thank you for this awesome opportunity!

  46. I love shopping at Kirklands. They have always got such a wonderful variety of things that I can’t live without !! I love the pictures and furniture the most !! I would buy things for my new screen porch !!!

  47. Love the mirror and that it came from Kirkland’s. I had notice it before but missed that it was from there. Now my GC my son gave me is really burning a hole in my pocket!

  48. I LOVE Kirklands. My patio could really use some sprucing up. Love the beverage dispensers. Thanks for all the inspiration Traci :)

  49. I would get a set of the Aqua Buttoned Linen Throw Pillows for starters!
    RC name: Mechele JOhnson

  50. Love this giveaway and I love to entertain! I would like to have some of their colorful outdoor lighting!

  51. LOVE all your decorations…especially the big tub for cold drinks! And I LOVE Kirklands!! Hoping to win this giveaway!!

  52. We just got chickens this spring so I would get the chicken or egg print and the ceramic egg crate in turquoise!

  53. I need to beautify the front porch area. Rug, art, candles so many things to choose to spruce it up.
    Thanks

  54. Kirkland’s is one of my favorite shops. We shop at Greenville, SC and Columbia, SC. Loved your porch.

  55. So super cute……my favorites are the glass jars with flowers on the table and the lanters….I would want to hang out on that patio!!!

  56. I have a small brick patio that I that butts up to the house and I would love the distressed natural planter table from Kirkland’s to use for serving beverages and appetizers/snacks. I’d put the vintage glass beverage dispenser from Kirkland’s on it. I have a smaller oblong galvanized tin that I use for bottled drinks. And to make it feel more like an outdoor room I’d love to put the Vera Birch Chevron Indoor/Outdoor rug from Kirkland’s to go under my comfy outdoor chairs.

  57. I think I need to get out and dress up our patio! I may take inspiration from what you have done……………..

  58. Pick me please! I would live a new table settig or some new lighting to freshen up our porch. Thank you for the giveaway opportunity!

  59. Loved your set up! We have just moved to this house and I was thrilled to have a screened in back porch. And I have already been looking at Kirkland’s for ideas of what to put on the porch for entertaining purposes. I did buy a wire basket from Kirklands to hold items such as paper plates, cups, and napkins and I bought two drink dispensers. I would like to get a sideboard table and something for the wall – I liked your chalk board. I think I would like some fun lighting as well. I made a coffee table out of an old cauldron with a pallet top that turned out great. So it would be really great to be able to get the gift certificate from Kirklands to finish the porch!

  60. I would love to choose the wicker settee or chairs and a vintage glass beverage dispenser. Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  61. Traci, your patio looks gorgeous! I’d love to do a similar setup to yours :)! Those soirees of yours sound awesome!

  62. We love to have company over especially in the summer time. Does Kirkland’s sell the galvanized drink station? I’d definitely buy that. :)

  63. I would love new bedding, mine is looking shabby and not in a chic way, lol. I would start with the Red Gatehill for my bedroom and redo the rest of the bedrooms as well

  64. I love everything from Kirklands. I would be happy to have anything from the store both outside and inside my home.

  65. Wow there is soo many great things I would like to buy with it if I won. I would de get this pretty natural wood wall clock. I don’t have any clocks on my wall so I think I need one. By the way I love this post. My husband is from Kentucky and he loves Ale8:)

  66. love love love the Paisley cushions and pillows at kirklands.com. They would absolutely be first on my list.

  67. My daughter is engaged and I have been shopping for table decor for the reception. The distressed white and teal lanterns would be perfect, and I need 20, so the gift card would be gone fast!

  68. Love the lanterns and your porch certainly looks like the perfect entertaining and enjoying sweet tea spot! Gorgeous!

  69. An upholstered headboard is on my wishlist. I’m really liking the Serena Khaki (and it’s on sale!!)

  70. I would love to get the Olivia Twin Comforter Set for my daughter. It is so cute! Thank you for the opportunity to win!

  71. Kirkland’s has sooooo many adorable things, it’s hard to say specifically what I would purchase, but trust me when I say I would have no trouble whatsoever spending the money! Thanks very much for the giveaway!

  72. I love Kirklands!! We are actually renovating our front bathroom and updating our living room so I’m definitely looking for accessories and inspiration. (((Hugs)))

  73. I would love to buy the Vera Capri outdoor rug for our patio. Thanks for the chance to win.

  74. Hello! I am a new reader, and absolutely L♡VE your blog! You are a such a great source of inspiration and beautiful ideas! My family and I just began fixing up our back patio, specifically so that we could enjoy a summer full of evening soirees! Kirkland’s is the ideal place to shop for the remaining accessories I need to really dress it up and turn it into a place my family truly loves! Thank you for the opportunity!

  75. Kirkland’s is one of my favorites. I don’t know what I would choose, but it would be something good for sure!

  76. I love the metal candle lanterns….would hang lots of those from the trees….also would love to have some pretty dinnerware….

  77. LOVE all of the items but beings it is summer I would purchase something my kids and grandchildren would enjoy for outdoor entertaining……and boy it would be hard to pick!! LOVE LOVE LOVE this site!!! Thank You!!

  78. I love all the garden stepping stones,Garden Tool Hooks, the Shelf-Roosting Roosters, the
    Chicken Or Egg Framed Art Print, the Buttermilk Beadboard 4-Drawer Console Table…too much to choose from…I love almost everything they sell!!! :)

  79. Love the mirror and lanterns hanging on the wall!! We are currently house hunting and I can’t wait to create my own little oasis.

  80. There us a beautiful carved wood piece for the wall that I have to have! The gift card would really be nice!!

  81. I think I would purchase…Sydney Loop Indoor/Outdoor Rug, 5×7. My daughter and I have just been laying pavers in my yard and a rug would just pull the area all together. Thanks for the opportunity. :)

  82. Kirkland’s is my favorite store. My birthday is next week and I would LOVE to win the gift card. If I’m the winner I will buy the double beverage dispenser with the chalk board tags, a large coastal picture for above my fireplace and the Black Magazine Basket Tower.

  83. Your summersoirée will be perfect in this patio. It looks beautiful!
    Passez une très bonne soirée!

  84. I love the summersoirée idea and kirklands is my favorite store. I have something from Kirklands in each room in my house; they are economical and so unique for each piece with constantly changing items.

  85. Love, Love, LOVE Kirkland’s!!!! :-) I would definitely another one of their lovely lamps for my living room!!!

  86. We really need to spruce up our deck! The 5×7 outdoor rugs are beautiful! And would love one of the Beverage Stations for parties!!!

  87. I LOVE all the outdoors decor- it will be perfect for my daughter’s backyard birthday party coming up! May incorporate a little of Kirklands indoor pieces too! :D

  88. Just finished a 18 x 40 screened porch and my daughter works part time at Kirklands. Guess where I will be shoppin?

  89. I just moved into my dream home gory weeks ago, and have lots of new devil ideas and needs. I would use the Kirkland’s gift card to help fill up my new home.

  90. Oh my, this would be such a wonderful prize to win. We are having an Italian themed get together this August for all of our friends at the resort we have our trailer parked for this season. With work at a minimum and funds being closely cared for, this would be awesome!
    Thank you for offering such a generous give away :)

  91. My back deck needs sprucing up. It is worn out and tired. I would purchase items to adorn the deck. Thank you for the chance to win the gift card.

  92. Just bought a house in February so I could use anything, I love to decorate! Really love rustic and antique styles of things.

  93. Would definitely start with the beverage dispensers, then move on to their hard-to-choose lighting! Thanks for the giveaway! :)

  94. Love all the farm house type accessories- ANY of them and ALL of them would work on my back porch

  95. I have a bare backyard with a pool! I am terrible at decorating, but dream of a nice oasis in this desert! I would love to try my hand at decorating with Kirklands and your ideas give me inspiration!

  96. So much to choose from, but I wouldn’t mind having the Archipelago ivory slipper chair and some of their clear glass lanterns :) also, one of their lamps, but it’s hard to choose which one!

  97. I love the lanterns . I would love to get some for my deck. The beverage center is so cute and practical.

  98. I really like your beverage dispensers and would choose those. Or the mason jar dispensers. Then, who know’s?! There are so many great things to choose from.

  99. Love you outdoor area. So cheerful. I’d also love a 250.00 gift card to Kirkland’s to update our outdoor space. :)

  100. There are so many wonderful things! I would get some lanterns and a mirror. I love the look of that on your porch. :)

  101. After visiting kirklands.com I think I would get a beverage station and a beverage dispenser, some new colorful cushions, and some paper lanterns or some sort of lighting.

    1. We love to entertain also, I would love to give a fresh look to my outdoor area with the Kirkland giftcard. Thanks for the offer!

  102. I would get more Parson chairs or fabric covered bench to finish out my dining room! Thanks for the opportunity to win!

  103. I have been wanting to purchase round wicker placemats like Kirkland has…winning this drawing would be so great!

  104. So many things I love at Kirklands, but the first thing I’d buy is a sign that says “Give Me Some Sugar” –it’s perfect for my daughter’s cupcake-themed bedroom.

  105. I think I’d use it towards the Sabrina Serta Pewter Convertible Storage Sofa – as our sofa is falling apart

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